LAPLACE — More than 250 volunteers, including residents, community organizations, government agencies, churches, schools and businesses participated in the Annual Fall Clean Sweep event Sept. 20.

The event is organized by St. John the Baptist Parish officials and the “Keep St. John Beautiful” Committee.

St. John Parish District Attorney Tom Daley and Parish President Natalie Robottom greeted volunteers as they gathered at 8:30 a.m. at Highway to kick off the day and gather supplies.

“We had a very successful fall cleanup,” Daley said. “I want to personally thank the over 200 cub scouts and their leaders who participated.”

Daley said community service workers and Phil Maples, community service coordinator, played a large part in the event’s success, as did Dana Milioto, who assisted the committee in organizing and coordinating the biannual event.

All participants received garbage bags, gloves, t-shirts, masks and trash clamps in support of the event.

The Clean Sweep committee assigned volunteers to major thoroughfares throughout the parish for clean-up and encouraged businesses and neighborhood groups to clean in areas where they are located.

“Clean Sweep is a great educational opportunity that spotlights the negative effects of littering,” Robottom said. “It is also an opportunity to bond together to make St. John a cleaner and more beautiful place to live and raise a family. We encourage all residents to join us in making the fight against litter a lifestyle rather than an event.”

To celebrate the clean-up effort, volunteers returned to the Park for jambalaya, drinks and relaxation.

The “Keep St. John Beautiful” Committee distributed recycle bins to encourage recycling at home.

Kerry Jones, Entergy Customer Service Representative, said Entergy employees thoroughly enjoyed participating in Clean Sweep and are looking forward to next year. “As a company and as employees, we understand the value of powering the life of our communities, it’s what we do,” Jones said. “We live here too.”

This year, proceeds from the 36th Annual Andouille Run will benefit the “Keep St. John Beautiful” campaign. The five-mile run and two-mile run/walk will be held Oct. 19 at 8 a.m. in Highway 51 Park.

Visit andouillefestival.com for more information on how to register.

The annual Spring Clean Sweep will be held in March or April of 2015.

Milioto, St. John Clean Sweep Coordinator, asks participants to sign up early and be on the lookout for more information regarding the event.

For anti-littering tips and efforts, visit the “Keep America Beautiful” website at www.kab.org.

The Parish recycle yard is open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is located at 1801 W. Airline Highway in LaPlace. Recycle bins are also located at the following facilities: Westside Fire Station, Edgard Courthouse, Garyville Service Center, Health and Human Services, LaPlace Service Center, St. Andrews Fire Station and Pleasure Bend Fire Station.